Politics and religion
Sunday our pastor quoted one of John Wesley's own favorite quotations (which I believe may have originated with Augustine): "In essentials unity, in non-essentials tolerance, but in all things love."
And then this morning I opened my daily email from The Upper Room, and found this wonderful and much needed reflection:
Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
- James 1:22 (NRSV)
Today's Devotional
A foul mood is spreading across our society and the world these days. Dialogue seems to have been replaced by name-calling that is little related to truth. Broadcasters fill the air with divisive labels designed to wound. Sometimes we see the same malice in the arena of faith and religion. This kind of talk reduces difficult issues to slogans and stops us from seeing others as worthwhile individuals. However, each of us has the choice and ability to move beyond labels and categories.
What changed for me is meeting people who are different from me. I discovered that they have hopes and dreams like mine. My study of scripture revealed that all people are of sacred worth. I learned that labels and categories can be used to lie and hide the truth, to injure and wound, to create fear and manipulate people. Words that make us suspicious of anyone who is different can make people into adversaries and enemies.
We read in Hebrews 13:1-2, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This counsel allows no exceptions. Any label or category that diminishes the worth of another person also diminishes us. As believers in Christ, we are called to honor every individual we meet as a person of sacred worth - nothing less.
F. Richard Garland (New Hampshire, USA)
Thought for the Day: What labels limit my seeing and honoring people as God’s beloved children?
Prayer: O God, help us to love and respect one another as your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Political adversaries
I usually feel that when the Lord calls my attention twice to the same idea in a short amount of time, it's something I need to pay attention to. I frequently have found my own thoughts less than charitable lately towards those who disagree with my POV, especially when they are in the political arena; yelling "idiot" at the TV screen is not good for my blood pressure OR my spiritual development, and even worse is "thinking" it at someone I know in person who is talking about his/her own opinions that are different than mine. While I hope I have good manners enough to be civil in person, I have to realize that uncharitable thoughts don't do much good either, and it's hypocrisy on my part to be smiling at someone while inside I am seething at them.
For some reason, I don't have the same problem with my online friends, whether they agree or disagree-- I suppose it's being filtered through the written word that helps me organize my thoughts, so that we can have a civil discussion without my getting emotional?
I do LIKE debate and civil argument. I just don't like feeling that some people will never listen to ANYTHING I say, or worse, twist my own opinions into something they can ridicule. And I don't like being told I can't be a good Christian if my opinions on certain political things fall closer to the liberal side than the conservative.
The most important part of the first quote above is "in all things love". I wish that our leaders and lawmakers on BOTH sides of the political divide would remember that part.
And then this morning I opened my daily email from The Upper Room, and found this wonderful and much needed reflection:
Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
- James 1:22 (NRSV)
Today's Devotional
A foul mood is spreading across our society and the world these days. Dialogue seems to have been replaced by name-calling that is little related to truth. Broadcasters fill the air with divisive labels designed to wound. Sometimes we see the same malice in the arena of faith and religion. This kind of talk reduces difficult issues to slogans and stops us from seeing others as worthwhile individuals. However, each of us has the choice and ability to move beyond labels and categories.
What changed for me is meeting people who are different from me. I discovered that they have hopes and dreams like mine. My study of scripture revealed that all people are of sacred worth. I learned that labels and categories can be used to lie and hide the truth, to injure and wound, to create fear and manipulate people. Words that make us suspicious of anyone who is different can make people into adversaries and enemies.
We read in Hebrews 13:1-2, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This counsel allows no exceptions. Any label or category that diminishes the worth of another person also diminishes us. As believers in Christ, we are called to honor every individual we meet as a person of sacred worth - nothing less.
F. Richard Garland (New Hampshire, USA)
Thought for the Day: What labels limit my seeing and honoring people as God’s beloved children?
Prayer: O God, help us to love and respect one another as your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Political adversaries
I usually feel that when the Lord calls my attention twice to the same idea in a short amount of time, it's something I need to pay attention to. I frequently have found my own thoughts less than charitable lately towards those who disagree with my POV, especially when they are in the political arena; yelling "idiot" at the TV screen is not good for my blood pressure OR my spiritual development, and even worse is "thinking" it at someone I know in person who is talking about his/her own opinions that are different than mine. While I hope I have good manners enough to be civil in person, I have to realize that uncharitable thoughts don't do much good either, and it's hypocrisy on my part to be smiling at someone while inside I am seething at them.
For some reason, I don't have the same problem with my online friends, whether they agree or disagree-- I suppose it's being filtered through the written word that helps me organize my thoughts, so that we can have a civil discussion without my getting emotional?
I do LIKE debate and civil argument. I just don't like feeling that some people will never listen to ANYTHING I say, or worse, twist my own opinions into something they can ridicule. And I don't like being told I can't be a good Christian if my opinions on certain political things fall closer to the liberal side than the conservative.
The most important part of the first quote above is "in all things love". I wish that our leaders and lawmakers on BOTH sides of the political divide would remember that part.